Despite controversy surrounding certain casting decisions on Scott Derrickson’s origin story, Doctor Strange remains one of our most-anticipated movies of the year. It’s also the final comic book film to bow in 2016, and after poor showings from both Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad – both critically and commercially, at least compared to expectations – fans will be hoping that Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme is capable of sending off the year on a high note.
At least on paper, Derrickson’s mind-bending feature certainly has a lot in its arsenal, mixing eye-popping shots of folding cities a la Inception with an enviable and star-studded ensemble. That’s a cast that also takes center stage in today’s fresh batch of high-resolution images, offering up new looks at Mads Mikkelsen’s nemesis and Benedict Cumberbatch’s good doctor.
Equipped with his trusty Eye of Agamotto, we’ve seen plenty of shots of the Sherlock star weaving his magic, but when asked what truly makes Doctor Strange a superhero, Cumberbatch pointed in the direction of the character’s seemingly unbreakable spirit.
“This man reaches the very bottom and then more. You think, How much more can this guy take? He’s broken, he gets up again, he’s broken — and that’s really what makes him a superhero. A lot of people have asked me, ‘What makes him a superhero?’ That’s really the answer I should have given. It’s not the Cloak of Levitation. It’s not the Eye of Agamotto. It’s about his staying power. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. The guy endures so much.”
He’ll need all of the above if he really is to safeguard humanity from what lies beyond the real world.
Also starring Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Benedict Wong, look for Doctor Strange to bow in theaters on November 4.
